JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #94 - January/February 2015 - 50

NDT

Ultrasound phased array wheel
probe for composite testing
Olympus offers a new ultrasound phased array wheel probe
that has been specifically developed to facilitate high-quality,
immersion-like ultrasonic testing of composites and other
smooth-surfaced materials.

Efficient transmission of energy

lympus, a world leader in nondestructive testing technologies,
introduced the RollerFORM,
a new ultrasound phased array wheel
probe especially designed to facilitate
high-quality non-destructive testing of
materials commonly used in the aerospace industry. An affordable and easyto-implement replacement for full 2-D
encoding systems, the RollerFORM also
offers a viable alternative to immersion
techniques.

The RollerFORM's wheel tyre is made
from a unique material that closely
matches the acoustic impedance of
water. This design feature permits the
efficient transmission of energy to the
part without unwanted echoes, obtaining an optimum 1 mm near-surface
resolution in composites when using the
5 MHz phased array probe model. The
3.5 MHz probe model is better suited for
thicker and more attenuating materials.
Since the tyre material is transparent, the
inspector can easily identify the presence
of air bubbles or contaminants within
the water chamber. Minimal pressure is
required to achieve excellent coupling,
ensuring a strong signal even in difficult
scanning positions.

Common applications
The new probe, in combination with
a phased array instrument such as an
OmniScan or FOCUS LT flaw detector,
uses zero-degree ultrasonic beams for

Simon AlAin,
Product mAnAger
ScAnnerS & inSPection SolutionS
olymPuS Scientific SolutionS

the non-destructive testing (NDT) of
parts and materials in manufacturing and
maintenance environments. Common
applications include delamination sizing
and quantifying porosity of composite
materials, as well as wall-loss monitoring
in aluminium panels. With its integrated
indexing button, the ergonomically designed RollerFORM enables the inspector to map the surface of a material by
acquiring multiple one-line C-scans and
combining them in real time into a single
image. The built-in laser guide facilitates
straight and precise on-line scans.
With its lightweight, compact design and
durable construction, the probe provides a valued tool in manufacturing and
maintenance environments. It is ideal for
scanning large areas of composite materials resulting in faster inspection times
and increased productivity. n
More information:
www.olympus-ims.com

Focus

Minimal pressure is required to achieve
excellent coupling

Olympus Corporation is an international precision technology leader operating in industrial,
medical, academic and consumer markets, specializing in optics, electronics, and precision
engineering. As a subsidiary of Olympus Corporation, Olympus Scientific Solutions Americas is
an integral part of the global Olympus network with specific responsibility for the sales and
marketing of life science and industrial instrumentation in the Americas. The company's core
product line-up offers clinical, educational, and research microscopes, non-destructive testing
equipment, and analytical instruments all designed to enhance people's lives every day and
contribute to the safety, security, quality, and productivity of society.

50 jec composites magazine / No94 January - February 2015

http://www.olympus-ims.com

JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #94 - January/February 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #94 - January/February 2015